Method for increasing the melting point of petrolatums and products resulting therefrom



' obtained in the absence of said metals.

' fore, in another embodiment, my invention -re- Patented June 3, 1952 METHOD FOR INCREASING THE MELTING POINT OF PETROLATUMS AND PRODUCTS RESULTING THEREFROM Louis Schmerling, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application February 24, 1948,

Serial No. 10,586

12 Claims.

This invention relates to hydrocarbon compositions. It is more specifically concerned with a method for increasing the melting point of petroleum waxes, particularly petrolatums'.

Petroleum waxes can be divided into two classes, namely, parafiin waxes and petrolatums, also known as ceresin waxes. The paraflin waxes are found in petroleum distillates such as lube oils and have well-defined crystalline structures that may be crystals, plates, or needles. Waxes of this type absorb oil only loosely and usually can be recovered from oils containing the same merely by chilling the stock and filtering the oil from the crystals. On the other hand, petrolatum or ceresin waxes are found in residual stocks and adsorb or absorb oil tenaciously, the

separation of which is a much more difficult problem than in the case of paraffin waxes. Usually petrolatums are separated by centrifuging, 1. e., stocks containing the same are dissolved in a suitable solvent such as naphtha or a mixture of benzene and acetone, the solution is chilled, and centrifuged. It is generally believed that petrolatums have a microcrystalline structure. In general, they possess a grease-like consistency at room temperature, whereas parafiin waxes are considerably harder as well as higher melting. I have now found that the melting point of petroleum waxes, particularly petrolatums; may

be substantially increased by a relatively simple method. The resulting products are new com positions of matter that have higher melting points than the original petrolatum, but which latum.

In another embodiment my invention relates to a method of increasing the melting point of r petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a temperature at least as high as the decomposition temperature of said catalyst.

I have also found that when the peroxidecatalyzed condensation of ethylene and a petrolatum is conducted in the presence of certain metals, even higher yields are obtained and the melting point of the product is higher than is Therelates to a method of increasing the melting point of petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a temperature at least as high as the decomposition temperature of said catalyst and in the presence of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, cadmium, and mercury.

The petrolatums used in my process may be obtained in any of the usual ways. A preferred class comprises those of relatively low melting point, e. g., less than about 60 C. The higher melting point products produced therefrom can be used for purposes for which the starting material is unsuitable. For example, the products of my process can be used for coating paper, and various types of fabrics; whereas the ordinary naturally-occurring petrolatum, because of its low melting point, cannot. Also, products of my process, especially selected fractions thereof, possess utility as pour point depressants. Thus it can be seen that by increasing the melting point of the petrolatum a product of increased utility is obtained which can be used where softness and amorphous-like properties are desirable, but Where low melting point is objectionable.

The ethylene charged to my process may be obtained from any source, such as the dehydro- I are substantially unaflected by the presence of other hydrocarbons, such as ethane, or by the presence of dissolved oxygen. Thus refinery ethane-ethylene fractions may be charged to the process of this invention together with a suitable catalyst and a petrolatum. The olefinis condensed with the petrolatum in good yields and the ethane in the product is simply and inexpen- The promoters that may be used in the present 7 process consist of magnesium and the members j of the B sub-group of group II of the periodic table, namely, zinc, cadmium, and mercury.

These apromoters :may: be added ,-to--the -reaction zone in'ftheirelemental stateq orthe form or a.

compound which, under the conditions prevailing in the reaction zone, decomposes to 3716161713118 metal. The. potency of these promoters is dependent in part upon theirfphy'sical form;particularly the surface area *per-unit =weight,-{and it is often preferable to add them in a finely divided state. These metals Tare :specific-in their action; for the beneficial: efIectds-mot? obtained when other metals such as molybdenum, silver).

lead, and iron are employed in. my ,process. Nickel and copper appear to act as inhibitors. The process of my invention may be carried out in batch operation by placin g a quantity of the petrolatum, the metallic promoter, if one is emwployed, :and the catalyst l in :a reactor jequipped ---=.with'-ta:':mixing device; adding the ethylene, heatng'to' a-rlreactiontemperature, while mixing the t-rcontentscof the reactor, cooling after. a suitable period of time andrecovering thenproduct.

. The preferred"method-"of' operation-ris of the 1 -.cont-inuous type; In this method :of operation the ethylene, petrolatum; promoter, andwcatalyst -arecontinuously charged to a reactor-maintained under isuitable "conditions of temperature and -pressure. *Thereactor maybe an unpacked vessel' or';it maycontain an adsorbent packing mater-i'al, s uch as fir'ebrick, alumina, dehydrated -bauxite, and the like; upon which the catalyst is dep'osited and retained. Instead of charging "the-metal to the reaction zonetogetherwith the "other'rea'ctants, the metal may be-cplaced in'the Til- 631cm}; and; the "ethylene, petrolatumand per- 'foxidemaybe'passed-over it. The'produc't is "separated from-the reactor effluent and any un-j converted ethylene may be recycled to the'reac- "tion'zone. 'If a product of higher melting point is desired, a poitionof the product also may be 7 'ecycledto the reaction zone.

.Ano'theizmodejlof operation that maybe usedis Jthcfiuidized type wherein the charge is passed ."through a bed. of finely "divided adsorbent ma! .teitial orpromo'ter thereby causing thesolid mai )terial to ibecome, motionalized .and forming a f'i'luidrlike mass. Aportion of the adsorbent may [be continuously withdrawnjfrom the reaction .zone, cooled, and, returned thereto thus-providi .ingan 'efficienthriethod for removing theiheat of 7 reaction.

Instead ofseparatelyadding the peroxide cataljlyst to the reactionzone, I'have' found. thatffre- .quently, it-is more desirable and economical to :formthe catalyst i'nlsitu in the petrolatum .and

vfthen'charge it to the reaction zone together with ...the, ethylene. Formation of. the peroxide in the.

,petro'latum :may be accomplished by. autooxi'da- Qtion, i. e.,,by heating the-hydrocarbon,while air,

-..;is.bubbled through it, .preferably .in thepresence of-a trace-of peroxide from aprevious autooxida tion. Alternatively, the air may be passed tlarough;therhydrocarbon in the presence-of an ---oxi,dationfcatalyst such :asmagnesium: stearate. E Imsome-cases it will'be beneficial to add a- -minor 1 amount; of 'olefinic or fcycloolefinic hydrocarbons tc the cpetrolatum :before passing therethrough. theizcontinuouszn'ethod of carryingout-amy.

:process, the'cata-lyst' preferably, is addedzcontinsudus'lytothereaction zone, but, if desired. it may :ihevzadded ';intermittently,' :particularlywhen a.

packing .material which retains catalyst is employed in the reactor.

The temperature employed in the process of this invention should be at least as high as the initial. decomposition .tempera-tu-re-v of the peroxide-used as the catalyst. In thexcas'e of tertiary.

butyl perbenzoate, for example, the decomposition temperature is approximately 115 C. Higher temperatures maybe employed but little advan- =--tageis gained"if the temperature is more than :LaboutilBO C. higher than the decomposition temperature of the catalyst. Although rather low =5p-ressuresmay be'employed in my process, I prerto use. at. least 15 atmospheres. Pressure as high'as '500atmospheres may be used but thepreferred. range .is from about 30 to about 100 at- -.m 'cspheres.

The concentrations of catalyst utilizable in my process can Vary over a wide range For reasons of economy, it generally is desirable to use low concentrations-such'as from about 0.1% .toabout 5% of the ethylene charged. Higher concentra- .tionsof catalyst usually tend to lower themolecularaweight of the product and if. such products are desired they may be'prepared by using catalyst concentrations up to 15% or more.

"In :batch operation and in .flow operations-that do not. employ packing= materials, thereon-tact time should be in the rangeof fromabout -ikminutes to about 6 hours. However, contact-times of at least '10 minutes u'sually are preferrdk'rIn fixed bed operation auspa'ce velocity,r*defined:ias the volume'of liquid chargediper houradividedfby the superficial volume .-of packing;-shouldr-be' in the range of from fibOlllfO-lljo about 10. .Th'e ratio of-petrolatum to ethylene charged to :the r'e'ac- The following example is given to illustrate my invention, but it is not introduced with thetintention "0f unduly limiting the-generally broad scope of said invention:

.Example Forty-two grams of a commercial petrolatum (Blue Seal Vaselinc.) and :3 gramsof tertiary loutyl peroxide were placed in a glass: liner in a rotating autoclave followed by the addition thereto offifl a'tmosph'eres of ethylene. The autoclave was 'then heated to a temperature rofxl36 C.- and ro'tated at that. temperature.ifor:24a hours, after which the autoclave was removedzand'the product recovered therefrom. The: product was a solid that had a grease=like4consistenhy:and that melted 'at 74 C. Themeltingpointpfythe petrolatum charged ,to the autoclave: was r l3=45 C. Thus it can be seen that in this-experiment "the-.melting-ipoint of a commercial petrolatum "-was. substantiallyincreased without any appreciablezchangein the consistency.

"I claim as my invention: V 1. The condensationflproductobtainedlby. subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a temperature at least as high as the decomposition temperature of said catalyst.

2. The condensation product obtained by subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a temperature at least as high as the decompositiontemperature of said catalyst in the presence of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, cadmium, and mercury.

3. A method of increasing the melting point of petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a temperature at least as high as the decomposition temperature of said catalyst.

4. A method of increasing the melting point of petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a temperature at least as high as the decomposition temperature of said catalyst and in the presence of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, cadmium and mercury.

5. A method of increasing the melting point. of petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a pressure above about atmospheres and at a temperature of from about the decomposition temperature of said catalyst to about 150 C. higher than said decomposition temperature.

6. A method of increasing the melting point of petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of an organic peroxide condensation catalyst at a pressure above about 15 atmospheres and at a temperature of from about the decomposition temperature of said catalyst to about 150 C. higher than said decomposition temperature and in the presence of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, cadmium, and mercury.

7. A method of increasing the melting point of petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of a hydrocarbon peroxide condensation catalyst at a pressure above about 15 atmospheres and at a temperature of from about the decomposition temperature of said catalyst to about C. higher than said decomposition temperature.

8. A method of increasing the melting point of petrolatum which comprises subjecting ethylene and a petrolatum to the action of a hydrocarbon peroxide condensation catalyst at a pressure of from about the decomposition temperature of said catalyst to about 150 0. higher than said decomposition temperature and in the presence of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, cadmium and mercury.

9. The process of claim 5 further characterized in that said organic peroxide catalyst comprises tertiary butyl perbenzoate.

10. The process of claim 7 further characterized in that said hydrocarbon peroxide catalyst comprises ditertiary butyl peroxide.

11. The process of claim 6 further characterized in that said organic peroxide catalyst comprises tertiary butyl perbenzoate.

12. The process of claim 8 further characterized in that said hydrocarbon peroxide catalyst com prises ditertiary butyl peroxide.

LOUIS 'SCHMERLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,298,846 Skooglund Oct. 13, 1942 2,448,799 I-Iappoldt et a1 Sept. 7, 1948 2,450,451 Schmerling Oct. 5; 1948 

